Ian Parry from Prestatyn who died in an air crash near Bucharest in Romania

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Ian Parry, from Prestatyn in Denbighshire , was covering the Romanian Revolution on behalf of the Sunday Times in December 1989 when the aeroplane he was travelling in crashed.

Witnesses claim the plane was shot down, although the authorities have always insisted the incident happened as a result of bad weather.

Charges filed at the Romanian supreme court last week indicted Ion Iliescu, who remained president until 1996, on counts of crimes against humanity.

They relate to accusations Iliescu and his ministers illegally suppressed anti-government demonstrations six months after Mr Parry’s death.

Iliescu had become interim president following the overthrow of Nicolae Ceaucescu in 1989.

But John Stevenson, who made a documentary for S4C for the 25th anniversary of the incident – rebroadcast on the channel last Sunday – said news of the charges facing Iliescu suggested a fresh investigation into Mr Parry’s death could be a step closer.

John Stevenson, former political correspondent at BBC Cymru Wales

“The fact that these charges have been brought against Iliescu and members of his inner circle suggests strongly that the air of invincibility which has protected him and his entourage for so long is finally beginning to evaporate,” said ex-BBC Wales reporter Mr Stevenson.

“I understand that a file on the alleged murder of Parry and other Western journalists is also with the prosecutor’s office in Bucharest. I shall now be contacting them to establish if they intend to bring charges relating to these deaths as well and if so, when.

"My hope is that we are edging closer to establishing what exactly happened to Ian Parry and other journalists during the revolution.

“The only way to get closure and for Romania to be taken seriously as a democracy is when it faces up to its past and comes to terms with it.”

Mr Parry’s brother Charles said the family had consistently pressed for an inquiry into his death, adding: “We are naturally fearful of creating false hopes but we look forward as a family to seeing what happens next.

“We don’t want retribution. All we want to know is what really did happen to Ian.”